Mercedes A45 AMG: Official

The Mercedes A45 AMG – Mercedes’ first ‘Hot Hatch’ – has been revealed ahead of a debut at Geneva 2013. It gets 355bhp and does 0-62mph in 4.6 seconds.

The new A Class that has perhaps been the most anticipated is the Mercedes A45 AMG, a proper hot hatch from Mercedes – and the smallest car ever top carry the AMG badge – and one that will, for the first time, give Mercedes answer to cars like the BMW M145i and Audi RS3. And now it’s been revealed.

The 2.0 litre turbo 4-cylinder engine under the bonnet of the A45 produces a very healthy 355bhp and 332lb/ft of torque, enough to scoot the A45 AMG to 62mph in 4.6 seconds yet still returns official economy of 34mpg.

All that power is driven to all four wheels to a Mercedes 4MATIC four wheel drive system – suitably fettled by AMG – through Mercedes seven-speed dual-clutch auto ‘box and is capable of splitting power equally between the front and back wheels.

Under the skin, Mercedes has fitted big discs – 350mm at the front, 330mm at the back – retuned the steering and fitted stiffer springs, dampers and bushes.

Cosmetically, there’s a butch body kit including a new AMG grill and big front splitter, and the door mirrors, sills and air intakes get a coat of gloss black, with stuff like red brake calipers, rear aerofoil, carbon fibre trim. AMG Performance Pack and suspension upgrades all lurking on the options list.

Inside has been given a makeover too, with AMG logos, red highlights, new AMG seats and an AMG instrument cluster.

The new Mercedes A45 AMG will debut at Geneva next month and go on sale in the UK in the summer. We expect a price starting around £35k.